Svalbard Graphics
Every graphic on the Wire
The Wire's graphics, 20 in all, each drawn from its data. Each opens its explorer, with the figures under it; the graphics of the stories, the In depth pieces and the specials open where they are read.
The genebanks of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault
The vault outside Longyearbyen keeps 1.4 million seed samples from 135 genebanks in 84 countries and the international centres.
The days the Seed Vault opened for deposits
The vault has opened for deposits on 73 days since 26 February 2008; the largest day, 26 February 2008, brought 237,106 samples, and the latest, 13 October 2026, 16,514.
How full the Seed Vault is
The vault holds 1.4 million seed samples, 95% of one hall; it has room for 4.5 million.
When the signal disappears
When the mobile network and internet go down, word can still reach you in three ways: radio can still be heard, the pages saved on your phone can still be opened, and at Kulturhuset you can ask in person.
Longyearbyen's emergency and duty numbers
Longyearbyen's emergency and duty numbers, on one card to print and keep.
Longyearbyen's regional culture fund, 2025 and 2026
Longyearbyen's culture fund: NOK 100,000 in 2025, NOK 95,000 in 2026
The town today
In town on Monday 9 November: four events listed.
In the news
Polar bears and Arctic foxes with bird flu antibodies went from none to most of those sampled
In "Monitoring tracks bird flu in Svalbard wildlife".
After seabirds in 2022, bird flu was found in walruses, Arctic foxes and polar bears
A peer-reviewed study lists 27 detections from June 2022 to August 2025: 21 birds of six species, a walrus and five Arctic foxes. In 2026 a walrus and two polar bears found dead tested positive.
Elvesletta nord, block 4
Svalbard Utbygging AS planned a block of 15 family flats on this plot. The council upheld its refusal, and the Governor of Svalbard now decides the appeal.
The old fire station plot at Vei 311-2
Store Norske Næringsbygg AS planned two buildings with 88 rooms for visiting workers on this plot. The council upheld its refusal, and the Governor of Svalbard now decides the appeal.
The new building covers two plots at Vei 401
Svalbard Wildlife Eiendom AS will put up one building with offices, a workshop and four bedsits across Vei 401.22 and Vei 401.24.
The snow crab quota for 2027 is 16,594 tonnes, up from 12,336 tonnes in 2026
In "UiT professor reviews snow crab dispute around Svalbard".
Norway's continental shelf runs from the mainland under the Barents Sea to Svalbard and north of it
The Supreme Court ruled in March 2023 that the Svalbard Treaty's equal fishing rights apply in Svalbard's territorial sea, not on the continental shelf. The EU's 2026 fishing regulation says the treaty grants equal access to resources around Svalbard.
Water cut near Tollbygget and fire station on Monday
Longyearbyen Local Council will shut off the water in the marked area on Monday 9 November from 09:00 to 16:00, while a new water pipe is brought into use.
No entry on Road 300 from vei 501 to Sverdrupbyen
Sysselmesteren (the Governor of Svalbard) has banned movement and staying on Road 300 from the junction with vei 501 to Sverdrupbyen, on the slope above the road and at the buildings around Sverdrupbyen, because rocks may fall from Platåberget. People may stay in Huset if they use the entrance on the river side. The ban holds from 29 October at 13:30 until further notice.
In depth and specials
How the Zeppelin Observatory catches plastic from the air
In the In depth piece "Plastic from European cities reaches Zeppelin Observatory".
What Russia says about Svalbard, and what Norway answers
In the In depth piece "What Russia says about Svalbard, and what Norway answers".
How a claim over Crimea reached Barentsburg
In the In depth piece "Why the Professor Molchanov remains held in Barentsburg".
Russia on Svalbard
People, coal, the treaty and the plans, in maps, numbers and archive pictures.
